Out Upon the Bay

Out upon the bay

Underneath the moon

Glaring on the water

With malevolent gloom,

Two of us alone

Underneath.  The sky,

Eavesdropping on our talk,

Was silent in reply.

And we talked of life,

Underneath a cloud.

We spoke about this world

That was to us endowed

By the God hid there

Underneath our hearts.

Out upon the long pier

Standing where the bay starts.

Above there were stars,

Underneath the dark.

We pretended bird song,

Imagined dove and lark.

The water would splash

Underneath the spray;

Nearly overwhelm us

Way out upon the bay.

There was some music

Underneath the night

Way off across the bay.

A piping water sprite,

Who’s music was sad,

Underneath the sky.

It was lonely nature’s

Most tender final cry.

The whole world in rags,

The trappings of hate,

Had come here to find peace

At the bay water’s gate.

It grasped forgiveness.

Precarious as sand.

Have faith on the water;

Watch it baptize the land.

Out upon the bay,

Underneath your lips,

With humble quavering,

I push my fingertips.

Out upon the bay,

Underneath the nerve,

We listened to a song

That we had never heard.